As part of my exploration of teaching methods, this week I look at the Direct Method — the approach everyone thinks they’re using when they say, “I teach in the target language.” It promises a magical, immersive classroom where learners absorb meaning through context, gesture, demonstration, and intuition — no English, no translation, no grammar explanations. What follows is my take: what has worked for me, what hasn’t, and what I’ve learned along the way. This doesn’t mean I